Toggle action clamping device



Jan. 5, 1943. D. c. GREISEN 293979450 TOGGLE ACTION CLAMPING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 194-1 INVENTCR QENVE/P C. GEE/SEN I g s myw ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1943 K UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE TOGGLE ACTION CLAMPING DEVICE Denver 0. Greisen, Oswego, Oreg.

Application January 8, 1941, Serial No. 373,642

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a clamp for sheet materials.

More specifically it relates to a clamp for sheet materials, that includes a toggle action clamping device.

The objects of the invention are a simplified clamping device of wide availability, low cost of manufacture, and one that omits springs and other devices apt to get out of order.

A further object is a clamp for sheet materials that can be handled by a user wearing gloves, or mittens, such as a window washer in one exemplification, a truck driver with his delivery sheets, or a freight checker on docks and the like, in cold weather.

The invention resides in the novel structure and its mode of operation, whereby the objects recited and others that will be at once apparent, may be readily attained.

A drawing accompanies and forms a part of this specification, illustrating two beneficial uses to which the invention may be applied. Others will be at once apparent.

The drawing shows three figures and suggests another which is a mere modification of the main figures, by dotted lines.

Fig. I shows the application of my toggle clamp to a window washers squeegee, the figure being an end view;

Fig. II is an orthographic projection of Fig. I; and

Fig. III is an end view of the clamp per se.

In the drawing, a main jaw is formed of sheet metal of suitable character and consists of a relatively fiat jaw portion I, and an angularly bent and rebent open loop 2 and 3.

A toggle jaw 4 comprises a jaw portion 4' and a toggle leg portion 4", the latter being so formed and constructed that it is rockably engageable in abutting relationship, with the free end 3' of the open loop element at one end and is of such overall length that it is effective to exert toggle pressure against a sheet material such as 5 inserted well into the open loop 2 and 3.

The groove 6 is for convenience in attaching a handle 1, all parts of which are, indicated by the same reference number since it is not regarded as a part of the present invention, being shown to illustrate the adaptability of the clamp as a squeegee. Note that in this case the sheet 5 can be a rubber blade, one sharp edge of which is available for use in the ordinary squeegee, replacing the blade when that is rounded. By use of my clamping device, three other edges become immediately available, without tools.

When the clamp is used, on a'checkers board to hold sheets of shipping-documents, lists and the like, the articles will take the place of the rubber sheet or blade 5 and the lower jaw I will be extended as shown dotted in Fig. III.

It will be understood that material suitable for making the blade I will always be inherently resilient; hence it is seen that the open loop may be made of any desirable shape and the larger it is the wider will be the range of material thickness, such as 5, that can be held firmly, by virtue of the springiness of the open loop.

Having disclosed my invention, explaining it by text and illustrations of it in its best form as I now believe, in compliance with the statutes; what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clamping device for sheet material comprising a pair of relatively flat clamping jaws, one jaw being bent and rebent into the form of an open loop at the edge opposite its jaw edge, the other jaw being bent and rebent into a toggle leg rockably cooperative with the free end of the open loop of the first named jaw in abutting contact, in such manner that when the two jaws are closed on sheet material, the jaws will lock into closed position, the sheet being firmly held between the cooperative jaws and by pressure of the toggle leg back of the jaws.

2. A clamping device for sheet material comprising a pair of relatively fiat clamping jaws, one jaw being bent and rebent into the form of an open springy loop at the edge opposite its jaw edge, the other jaw being bent and rebent into a toggle leg rockably cooperative with the free end of the open loop of the first named jaw in abutting contact, in such manner that whenthe two jaws are closed on sheet material, the jaws will lock into closed position, the sheet being firmly held between the cooperative jaws and by pressure of the toggle leg back of the jaws.

,3. A clamping device for sheet material, comprising a pair of relatively flat cooperative clamping jaws, a main jaw member of said clamping device being bent and'rebent along an edge opposite the edge of its jaw portion to form an open loop, a toggle jaw formed with a jaw portion and a toggle leg portion, the said toggle leg portion being rockably engageable with the free end of the open loop of the other jaw in abutting contact and of such length that when the jaws are moved together, the toggle leg will first engage material between the jaws, then pass over center to locked position when the two jaws will come into contact with opposite sides of contained sheet material.

DENVER C. GREISEN. 

